Metodología de construcción de un protocolo de teleorientación para enfermedades crónicas en Colombia: estudio de caso

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered access to medical care, particularly affecting patients with chronic diseases, who have experienced a considerable disruption in their medical follow-up with profound and negative consequences. Objective: To describe the process of building a tele-counseling protocol for patients with hypertension at a primary care hospital in Colombia to support medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic. Methods: Participatory action research (PAR) was conducted, designed to foster continuous improvement through iterative cycles of planning, action, observation, and reflection, focused on the development of a telemedicine protocol from July 2021 to June 2022. Using this methodology, the tele-counseling protocol was designed using different strategies, procedures, and stages for its formulation. The first stage was a preparation phase, the second stage was a development phase, and the third stage was an evaluation and adoption phase. Results: In the preparation phase, the protocol development group was formed; the problem (chronic diseases) was identified, and literature review was conducted to construct and guide the protocol. In the development phase, a 40-page telecounseling protocol for patients with high blood pressure was obtained, consisting of clinical recommendations and a detailed telecounseling process. Finally, in the evaluation and adoption phase, the protocol was evaluated by various experts using the AGREE II tool. It was subsequently adjusted and, finally, accepted by the healthcare institution for implementation. Conclusions: A telecounseling protocol was designed for patients with high blood pressure at a primary care hospital in Colombia. It was evaluated by personnel with experience in telemedicine and adopted by the institution for implementation.